Hamas: We're Open to 'All Ideas' Ahead of Gaza Truce Talks in Cairo

A senior official from Hamas said that his organization is willing to consider "all ideas and proposals" as representatives convene in Cairo on Saturday to discuss a potential ceasefire in Gaza.

Speaking to AFP, the Palestinian official said that Hamas has "not received any new offer or proposal thus far."

However, he emphasized that Hamas "is open to discussing all ideas and proposals that could contribute to ending the conflict, facilitating Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, ensuring the return of displaced individuals, allowing humanitarian and relief aid to enter, and establishing a serious agreement for prisoner exchanges."

These discussions follow a ceasefire that was implemented on Wednesday between Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanese group allied with Hamas, as a result of a US-led initiative to negotiate a truce.

In the wake of the agreement with Lebanon, the United States has initiated a new diplomatic effort involving Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of captives taken during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

This assault resulted in the deaths of 1,207 individuals, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Since October 2023, Israel's military actions in Gaza have claimed the lives of 44,382 people, as reported by the health ministry in the territory.

On October 7, approximately 251 captives were taken, with 97 believed to still be held in Gaza, including 34 individuals whom the Israeli army has declared deceased. Some captives have lost their lives due to Israeli military operations, including failed rescue attempts and airstrikes.

The only ceasefire to date, which occurred in November 2023, resulted in the release of around 100 hostages by Hamas and its allies in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Since the beginning of the year, the United States, Qatar, and Egypt have led several unsuccessful attempts to negotiate a new ceasefire and facilitate the release of captives.